GDCF Model: Energy

Ultimate goal First Base targets Important first steps

Definitions

For the production of festivals, large amounts of energy are needed to operate all systems. Traditionally, festivals heavily rely on the use of fossil fuels, to ensure reliable electricity provision. This is vital for festivals, since festivals are often organized at temporary sites where grid connections with sufficient capacity are not abundant. To define a circular and climate neutral festival, the concept of the Trias Energetica (Delft University, 1979) has been optimized to the ‘Renewable Trias Energetica’, as a basis for festivals to design an energy efficient model. This concept includes three elements to be considered in the festivals’ energy planning:

• Reduce the energy consumption at your event
  First priority should be to rethink the current festival production, to increase energy efficiency and to rethink and optimize the use of systems which consume energy in the form of electricity and fuel.
• Use onsite renewable energy sources
  When energy is needed, move away from systems which require fossil fuels, to phase out the use of scarce natural resources and to phase out the emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs). In a circular economy, locally produced energy is ultimately preferred. While the use of reliable onsite generated renewable energy remains a challenge for most festivals, there are more and more examples of integrated solar and even wind power solutions at festivals. As solar and wind power depend on the weather conditions, combination with battery storage or hydrogen storage is essential. When the onsite generated renewable energy exceeds the consumption of the event, this can be termed an ‘energy regenerative’ event.
• Use remote (off site) generated renewable energy
  In many cases, renewable energy from the grid (renewable energy produced elsewhere and transported to the event) will be vital for festivals to ensure the use of renewable energy. This can be done through a cable (grid connection) or the renewable energy can be stored in batteries or in hydrogen and transported to the event site. However, the production and operation of such storage equipment often require (scarce) natural resources and therefore on site generated energy, and/or a grid connection to bring in renewable electricity, is preferred.

More info on the application of the ‘Renewable Trias Energetica’ concept for events, can be found here: https://www.greenevents.nl/en/energy-en/renewable-trias-energetica-the-path-to-emission-free-renewable-energy-at-your-event/

Renewable energy sources

The parties of the GDCF consider the following energy sources as renewable: solar energy, wind energy, hydropower, geothermal power and kinetic energy. These sources have few or no greenhouse gas emissions and do not jeopardise the energy needs and climate of future generations. While these renewable energy sources reduce the need for fossil fuels, the production of electricity generation installations still require scarce natural resources. The parties of the GDCF consider nuclear energy, fuel and energy based on biomass (only as temporary solution) and hydropower above 10 MW as non-renewable.